The source of your fish may change how many ‘forever chemicals’ you eat

Read the full article by Amudalat Ajasa (Washington Post)

“Most of the seafood Americans eat comes from abroad — and that means they’re exposed to a higher level of ‘forever chemicals,’ or PFAS, through contaminated fish, according to a new study released Thursday.

The findings, published in the journal Science, modeled how two types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFOA and PFOS, accumulate in the bodies of marine fish and then end up on people’s plates. The researchers examined the levels of these compounds, both of which are considered likely carcinogens, in 212 species and tracked their trade to estimate the exposure for consumers in 44 countries between 2010 and 2021.

Researchers found that fish in Asia and in the swath of the Pacific that encompasses Australia, New Zealand and many small island nations had the highest concentrations of these chemicals, but people in North America and Europe still consumed the highest levels of PFAS from the fish they ate.” …